Binomial Distributions

A binomial experiment is a probability experiment that satisfies these conditions.

1. The experiment has a fixed number of trials, where each trial is independent of the other trials.
2. There are only two possible outcomes of interest for each trial. Each outcome can be classified as a success
(S) or as a failure (F).
3. The probability of a success is the same for each trial.
4. The random variable x counts the number of successful trials.

N O T AT I O N F O R B I N O M I A L E X P E R I M E N T S

SYMBOL DESCRIPTION
n The number of trials
p The probability of success in a single trial
q The probability of failure in a single trial 1q = 1 - p2
x The random variable represents a count of the number of successes in n trials: x = 0, 1, 2, 3, . . ., n.

EXAMPLE
Identifying and Understanding Binomial Experiments
Determine whether the experiment is a binomial experiment. If it is, specify the values of n, p, and q, and list
the possible values of the random variable x. If it is not, explain why.

A certain surgical procedure has an 85% chance of success. A doctor performs the procedure on eight
patients. The random variable represents the number of successful surgeries.
Solution
The experiment is a binomial experiment because it satisfies the four
conditions of a binomial experiment. In the experiment, each surgery represents one trial. There are
eight surgeries, and each surgery is independent of the others. There are only two possible outcomes for
each surgery—either the surgery is a success or it is a failure. Also, the probability of success for each surgery is 0.85.
Finally, the random variable x represents the number of successful surgeries.

n = 8 Number of trials

p = 0.85 Probability of success

q = 1 - 0.85
= 0.15 Possibility of failure

x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Possible values of x
Binomial Distributions 2

FACTORIALS
If n is a positive integer, then n factorial, denoted by n!, is the product of all positive integers less than or equal
to n.
n!  n · (n – 1) · (n – 2) · · · · · 2 · 1 As a special case, we define 0!  1.

0! = 1 1! = 1
2! = 2· 1 = 2 3! = 3 · 2 · 1 = 6
4! = 4 · 3· 2· 1 = 24 5! = 5 · 4 · 3 · 2 · 1 = 120
6! = 6 · 5 · 4 · 3 · 2· 1 = 720 7! = 7 · 6 · 5 · 4 · 3 · 2 · 1 = 5,040
8! = 8 ·7 · 6 · 5· 4 · 3 ·2 · 1 9! = 9 · 8 · 7 · 6 · 5 · 4 · 3 · 2 · 1
= 40,320 = 362,880

BINOMIAL PROBABILITY FORMULA

In a binomial experiment, the probability of exactly x successes in n trials is
n!
P1x2 = pxqn - x.
1n - x2! x!
Note that the number of failures is n - x.

Calculating Probabilites with Binomial Distribution:

Instructions for Binomial Model (Part 1)
Calculate the probability of “exactly” x successes, or an individual success.

1. Press 2nd then VARS to get to DISTR (the distributions list).

2. Select 0:binompdf from the list provided, and press ENTER.
3. Enter the number of trials (n), the probability (p), and the number of successes
(x)—Example: binompdf(10,.5,1)—then press ENTER.

Instructions for Binomial Model (Part 2)

Calculate the probability of “at most” x successes, or cumulative successes.

1. Press 2nd then VARS to get to DISTR (the distributions list).

2. Select A:binomcdf from the list provided, and press ENTER.
3. Enter the number of trials (n), the probability (p), and the largest number of
successes (x) then press ENTER.
Binomial Distributions 3
EXAMPLE
Finding a Binomial Probability
Rotator cuff surgery has a 90% chance of success. The surgery is performed on three patients. Find the probability
of the surgery being successful on exactly two patients. (Source: The Orthopedic Center of St. Louis)

Solution

P122 = 0.243.

1. Press 2nd then VARS to get to DISTR (the distributions list).

2. Select 0:binompdf from the list provided, and press ENTER.
3. Enter the number of trials (n), the probability (p), and the number of successes
(x)—Example: binompdf(10,.5,1)—then press ENTER.

Check Point 1:

The results of a recent survey indicate that 67% of U.S. adults consider air conditioning a necessity. You
randomly select 100 adults. What is the probability that exactly 75 adults consider air conditioning a necessity?
Use technology to find the probability. (Source: Opinion Research Corporation)
4.2 Binomial Distributions 4

EXAMPLE
Finding Binomial Probabilities Using Formulas
A survey of U.S. adults found that 62% of women believe that there is a link between playing violent video
games and teens exhibiting violent behavior. You randomly select four U.S. women and ask them whether they
believe that there is a link between playing violent video games and teens exhibiting violent behavior. Find the
probability that (1) exactly two of them respond yes, (2) at least two of them respond yes, and (3) fewer than two of them
respond yes. (Source: Harris Interactive)

Solution

1. Using n = 4, p = 0.62, q = 0.38, and x = 2, the probability that exactly

two women will respond yes is
P122 ≈0.333.

2. To find the probability that at least two women will respond yes, find the
sum of P122, P132, and P142.
So, the probability that at least two will respond yes is
P1x Ú 22 = P122 + P132 + P142
≈ 0.333044 + 0.362259 + 0.147763
≈ 0.843.

3. To find the probability that fewer than two women will respond yes, find
the sum of P102 and P112.

P1x 6 22 = P102 + P112 ≈ 0.020851 + 0.136083 ≈ 0.157.

Binomial Distributions 5

P O P U L AT I O N P A R A M E T E R S O F A B I N O M I A L DISTRIBUTION

DISTRIBUTION
Mean: m = np
Variation: s2 = npq
Standard deviation: s = 2npq

EXAMPLE
Finding and Interpreting Mean, Variance, and Standard Deviation
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, about 56% of the days in a year are cloudy. Find the mean, variance, and standard
deviation for the number of cloudy days during the month of June. Interpret the results and determine any
unusual values. (Source: National Climatic Data Center)

Solution
There are 30 days in June. Using n = 30, p = 0.56, and q = 44, you can find the mean, variance, and standard
deviation as shown below.

m = np = 30 # 0.56
= 16.8 Mean

s = npq = 30 # 0.56 # 0.44

2

≈ 7.4 Variance

s = 2npq = 230 # 0.56 # 0.44

≈ 2.7 Standard deviation

Interpretation On average, there are 16.8 cloudy days during the month of June. The standard deviation is about
2.7 days. Values that are more than two standard deviations from the mean are considered unusual. Because
16.8 - 212.72 = 11.4, a June with 11 cloudy days or less would be unusual. Similarly, because 16.8 + 212.72 = 22.2,
a June with 23 cloudy days or more would also be unusual.